System and method for automatically managing media content

Abstract

A method, computer program product and computing device for receiving a request to load at least one new media content item on a personal media device. The size of the at least one new media content item is compared with the amount of storage space remaining on the personal media device to determine if the personal media device has sufficient available storage space. If the personal media device does not have sufficient available storage space, a relative weight associated with at least one old media content item stored on the personal media device is ascertained, the relative weight corresponding to a likelihood that the at least one old media content item will be rendered on the personal media device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. At least one electronic device to communicate with at least one remote server system via wireless communication, the at least one electronic device comprising:
 storage that, in operation of the at least one electronic device, is to store a list of previously user-identified media content items, the previously user-identified media content items having been listed in the list, in response, at least in part, to at least one user request, to identify the previously user-identified media content items as being for future purchase from the at least one remote server system; 
 when identified in the list, the previously user-identified media content items having not yet been stored in and having not yet been rendered by the at least one electronic device, at least in part; 
 the storage storing instructions that when executed, in operation of the at least one electronic device, result, at least in part, in presentation of a user interface that is to prompt for user purchase request of at least one of the items in the list; 
 the at least one electronic device, in the operation of the at least one electronic device, to receive a download of the at least one of the items from the remote server system, via the wireless communication, to be stored at the at least one electronic device, if the at least one user purchase request is provided; 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the user interface also to permit entry of at least one other user purchase request associated with at least one media content item that is currently being played by the at least one electronic device; 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device also to present identifying information associated with the at least one media content item that is being played by the at least one electronic device; and 
 in the operation of at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device to play streaming media provided by the at least one remote server system; 
 wherein:
 the at least one electronic device is, in the operation of the at least one electronic device, to:
 permit rendering of at least one sequence of radio station media content items; 
 restrict, in accordance with at least one skipping restriction, user skipping of the rendering of the radio station media content items in the at least one sequence; 
 
 the at least one electronic device comprises a handheld device; 
 in operation of the handheld device:
 the handheld device is to receive, from a user, at least one media content sharing request and at least one user selection of certain media content to be shared, the certain media content being stored, at least in part, at the handheld device; 
 the handheld device is to display via the user interface at least one indication of the at least one user selection of the certain media content to be shared; 
 based, at least in part, upon the at least one media content sharing request and the at least one user selection of the certain media content to be shared, the handheld device is to wirelessly transfer, at least in part, the certain media content to another handheld device for storing, at least in part, at the another handheld device; 
 
 in operation of the handheld device:
 the handheld device is to wirelessly transfer, at least in part, user contact information to the another handheld device, the user contact information being stored, at least in part, at the handheld device; 
 the handheld device is to receive user input to selectively configure the handheld device in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of possible contact information sharing authorization settings, the plurality of possible contact information sharing authorization settings including the following settings:
 authorization of contact information sharing with any other device; and 
 disabling of the contact information sharing entirely. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The at least one electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises:
 a cellular telephone. 
 
     
     
       3. The at least one electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device comprises:
 another interface to permit the at least one electronic device to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus of at least one other electronic device, the at least one other electronic device to communicate with the at least one remote server system; 
 internal speakers; 
 a wireless communication interface to permit the wireless communication; 
 
 the storage comprises at least one of flash and random access memory; and 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the user interface is to permit forward and backward skipping of playback among the media content items in the list. 
 
     
     
       4. The at least one electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the media content items in the list comprise at least one of:
 at least one song; 
 at least one video; 
 audio; 
 multimedia; and 
 at least one audio book. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The at least one electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the download is to be provided if a user purchase authorization is granted. 
 
     
     
       6. At least one non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that when executed by at least one machine permit performance of operations comprising:
 storing, in storage of at least one electronic device, a list of previously user-identified media content items, the previously user-identified media content items having been listed in the list, in response, at least in part, to at least one user request, to identify the previously user-identified media content items as being for future purchase from the at least one remote server system; 
 when identified in the list, the previously user-identified media content items having not yet been stored in and having not yet been rendered by the at least one electronic device, at least in part; 
 presentation of a user interface of the at least one electronic device, the user interface to prompt for user purchase request of at least one of the items in the list; 
 in operation of the at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device to receive a download of the at least one of the items from the remote server system, via wireless communication, to be stored at the at least one electronic device, if the at least one user purchase request is provided; 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the user interface also to permit entry of at least one other user purchase request associated with at least one media content item that is currently being played by the at least one electronic device; 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device also to present identifying information associated with the at least one media content item that is being played by the at least one electronic device; and 
 in the operation of at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device to play streaming media provided by the at least one remote server system; 
 wherein:
 the at least one electronic device is, in the operation of the at least one electronic device, to:
 permit rendering of at least one sequence of radio station media content items; 
 restrict, in accordance with at least one skipping restriction, user skipping of the rendering of the radio station media content items in the at least one sequence; 
 
 the at least one electronic device comprises a handheld device; 
 in operation of the handheld device:
 the handheld device is to receive, from a user, at least one media content sharing request and at least one user selection of certain media content to be shared, the certain media content being stored, at least in part, at the handheld device; 
 the handheld device is to display via the user interface at least one indication of the at least one user selection of the certain media content to be shared; 
 based, at least in part, upon the at least one media content sharing request and the at least one user selection of the certain media content to be shared, the handheld device is to wirelessly transfer, at least in part, the certain media content to another handheld device for storing, at least in part, at the another handheld device; 
 
 in operation of the handheld device:
 the handheld device is to wirelessly transfer, at least in part, user contact information to the another handheld device, the user contact information being stored, at least in part, at the handheld device; 
 the handheld device is to receive user input to selectively configure the handheld device in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of possible contact information sharing authorization settings, the plurality of possible contact information sharing authorization settings including the following settings:
 authorization of contact information sharing with any other device; and 
 disabling of the contact information sharing entirely. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       7. The at least one memory of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises:
 a cellular telephone. 
 
     
     
       8. The at least one memory of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device comprises:
 another interface to permit the at least one electronic device to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus of at least one other electronic device, the at least one other electronic device to communicate with the at least one remote server system; 
 internal speakers; 
 a wireless communication interface to permit the wireless communication; 
 
 the storage comprises at least one of flash and random access memory; and 
 in the operation of the at least one electronic device, the user interface is to permit forward and backward skipping of playback among the media content items in the list. 
 
     
     
       9. The at least one memory of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the media content items in the list comprise at least one of:
 at least one song; 
 at least one video; 
 audio; 
 multimedia; and 
 at least one audio book. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The at least one memory of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the download is to be provided if a user purchase authorization is granted. 
 
     
     
       11. The at least one electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the certain media content comprises video content. 
 
     
     
       12. The at least one memory of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the certain media content comprises video content.